Difference Between Angiography and Angioplasty: A Detailed Guide

Think of your blood vessels as highways carrying blood to your heart. Over time, due to your unhealthy lifestyle, some sticky plaque can block the path of these highways, making it difficult for blood to flow.

Now, angiography is like hiring a detective. It helps cardiologists take a close look at your blood vessels with the help of special imaging to find out if and where exactly blockages exist.

Once the detective finds the trouble location, angioplasty takes the lead as the helper. In this procedure, heart doctors insert a tiny balloon to push the plaque aside and may place a small stent to keep the path open.

To know about the difference between angiography and angioplasty, continue reading the blog.

What is Angiography?

It is a medical imaging technique used to obtain a clear picture of what is happening inside, or in the lumen of, blood vessels and organs, especially arteries, veins, and heart chambers. Blood vessels do not show clearly on a normal X-ray; hence, a special dye known as a contrast agent is injected into your blood first to highlight any issues with blood vessels.

Now, do not confuse angiogram and angiography. Angiography is the procedure, and the X-ray images created during angiography are known as angiograms.

What is Angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that expands narrowed or blocked arteries. This procedure involves using a balloon to push plaque (a fatty substance that builds up) aside, improving blood flow. It treats conditions like atherosclerosis, often during the same session.

What Disease Does Angiography Detect?

Angiography can help diagnose several issues affecting blood vessels, including:

• Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries increasing risk of stroke or heart attack)
• Peripheral arterial disease (the blood supply to leg muscles is hampered)
• A brain aneurysm (a bulged area in an artery in the brain)
• Angina (chest pain due to reduced blood supply to the heart muscles)
• Blood clots or a pulmonary embolism (a blockage in the blood supplying to the lungs)

What Diseases Does Angioplasty Treat?

Angioplasty can help treat the following medical conditions:

• Atherosclerosis
• Coronary artery disease
• Peripheral artery disease
• Heart attack damage
• Chest pain (angina)
• Congenital heart defects involving arteries
   

What Happens During Angiography

Angiography happens in a hospital’s X-ray or radiology room.

• After you lie down, the doctor numbs a small area in your groin or wrist.
• A tiny, flexible tube, or catheter, is inserted (gently) into an artery via a small cut.
• Then the catheter is delicately guided to the part of the body being examined, like your heart.
• A special dye is injected with the help of a catheter to highlight your blood vessels.
• X-ray images are captured to see how the dye moves.
• This shows if there are any blockages or narrowings or not
• The test may take 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• You can go home a few hours later.

What Happens During Angioplasty

Angioplasty involves the following steps:

The specialist numbs the skin near your wrist, arm, or groin.
Then a small cut is made.
A catheter with a tiny deflated balloon on its tip is inserted into an artery.

• Then these are guided to the blocked area.
• A special dye is injected so that the doctor can see the blockage on the X-ray.
• The balloon is inflated to widen the artery.
• This pushes plaque aside and improves blood flow.
• Not always, but a small mesh stent is placed to keep the artery open.
• Then the balloon and catheter are removed.
• The whole procedure takes 30 minutes to 2 hours.
• You can usually go home the same day or the next day.

What Are The Types Of Angiography?

There are many types of angiograms used to diagnose a variety of conditions.

• Coronary angiography (detects problems with the blood vessels of the heart)
• Aortography (detects issues with the aorta)
• Cerebral angiography (diagnoses problems with blood vessels of the brain)
• Fluorescein angiography (blood vessel-related issues of the eye are diagnosed)
• Peripheral arteriography (Arteries of the arms, legs, and trunk are checked)
• Pulmonary angiography (detects issues with the blood vessels of the lungs)

What Are The Types Of Angioplasty?

There are 2 main types of angioplasty.

• Balloon angioplasty: uses the pressure of an inflating balloon to clear plaque that is blocking an artery. 
  • Stent placement in the artery: Use a tube, or stent, made out of wire mesh to prevent an artery from narrowing again after angioplasty.

Risks Of Angiography

It's a safe and painless procedure. However, for a few days afterwards, it's common to experience:

• soreness
• bruising
• a very small lump or collection of blood around the cut

Risks Of Angioplasty

It is a safe procedure without complications.

Some of the rare complications are:
prolonged bleeding from the catheter insertion site in the groin or wrist

• damage to blood vessels or arteries
• damage to the kidneys
• an allergic reaction to the dye
• chest pain
• arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythm
• blood clot

Recovery Time Of Angiography

The recovery after angiography is usually quick, with most individuals going home the same day. You can resume normal activities within a day or two.

Recovery Time Of Angioplasty

Recovery from angioplasty depends on the severity of your condition and how properly you follow your doctor's advice. It generally takes about one to two weeks before returning to normal activities. You need to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise during this period.

A Quick Overview

Angiography versus Angioplasty:

FAQs

Q1: What Is The Difference Between An Angiogram And Angioplasty?
A: An angiogram is a diagnostic test that uses imaging to detect any blockages in your blood vessels, while angioplasty is a procedure to open those blocked arteries with the help of a balloon and restore blood flow.

Q2: What Is The Difference Between Angiogram Vs. Angiography?
A: Angiography takes comprehensive images of blood vessels using dye and X-rays, and an angiogram is the name of the X-ray image produced during angiography.

Q3: What Is The Purpose Of Angiography And Angioplasty?
A: Angiography helps doctors see where blockages are in your blood vessels. While  angioplasty fixes those problems by opening the blocked arteries to enhance blood flow.